Discover Ulster: Nature, History and Hotels

Water, hiking trails and historic buildings give a trip to Ulster a variety of different themes. First, consider what you’d like to experience: time outdoors, places steeped in history, or a mix of both. The possible excursions differ not only in theme but also in format—from a route along a reservoir to supervised swimming areas and tours of historic rooms.

Lakes, Rivers and Outdoor Trails

Sojourner Truth/Ulster Landing Park combines views of the Hudson River with a large beach area, a boat launch and hiking trails. Minnewaska State Park Preserve has four Sky Lakes. During the summer swimming season, lifeguards supervise swimming areas at Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting. Operations are seasonal, so take that into account when planning your visit.

The trails also offer different experiences. The Ashokan Rail Trail runs 11.5 miles along the Ashokan Reservoir, connecting West Hurley and Boiceville. Big Indian Wilderness has 30 miles of hiking trails through rugged, mountainous terrain. At Mohonk Preserve, five main entrances help you navigate the trail access points. These details describe different routes and landscapes, not one single type of excursion: choose based on whether a trip along the reservoir or a trail through mountainous terrain better suits your plans.

For trips to scenic spots in Ulster County, the Ulster County Nature Bus offers free rides and admission. Details of the service may vary by season, so check before planning your visit. This lets you take seasonal conditions and your planned activities into account together, without treating swimming areas, hiking trails and bus rides as interchangeable options.

History in Buildings and Landscapes

At the Senate House State Historic Site, you can visit the rooms where New York’s first Senate met. Museum collections and interactive exhibits, including “Revolution Comes to Kingston,” offer further insight into the site. If you’re more interested in structures than in interiors and collections, there are other notable examples: the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge is 6,768 feet (1.28 miles) long and stands 212 feet above the river’s surface. The Ashokan Bridge is a wooden covered bridge over Esopus Creek on the grounds of the Ashokan Center, and one of five covered bridges in Ulster County.

Maple syrup production at the Ashokan Center is also connected to seasonal cycles and the agricultural history of the Hudson Valley. For a different seasonal focus, Belleayre Mountain, a year-round ski resort, is located in the Town of Shandaken. These themes offer different starting points for planning your trip, without requiring a single excursion to cover all your interests.

Choose Your Stay Based on Your Plans

If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip to Ulster, start by deciding which experiences will shape your stay. Water and hiking trails lead to different excursion plans than historic tours, exhibits or structures. Then compare potential hotel locations based on the specific places you want to visit and where they are actually located. This way, you can start your search with your itinerary in mind—whether you plan to spend more time outdoors, are interested in history, or want to combine both.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Hurley, High Falls, Accord, Lake Katrine, New Paltz, Ellenville, Kerhonkson, Shandaken, Wallkill, Oliverea, Phoenicia, Highland, Rosendale, Kingston, Stone Ridge, Saugerties, Clintondale, Boiceville.

For the main travel overview: New York.